A massage gun was the best addition to my home office in 2021
I don’t have great posture – perhaps because I’m tall, perhaps because I’m lazy, or perhaps a combination of both. It’s something that’s only been made worse by working from home, without the watchful eyes of my colleagues to keep me from slouching over my keyboard. That, combined with extra time spent indoors generally, has meant a reappearance of some shoulder pain that first emerged when I was a student.
Use a massage gun safely
Avoid bony areas
Only use a percussive massage gun on muscles
Don’t use on injuries
Using a massager on a strain or sprain will make it worse
Keep the head moving
Don’t hold the massage gun in one area for too long
Stop if you feel discomfort
Trust your own judgement if it doesn’t feel right
I’d always thought of massage guns as something to use after a tough workout to help encourage good blood flow and help recovery – and they certainly are good for that – but over the last year I’ve found that the percussive therapy they deliver is also extremely handy after a long day slumped at a desk.
I’ve been fortunate enough to test quite a lot hand-held massage guns recently, and they all tend to have one thing in common: even on the lowest settings, they give you a real pummelling that can be a little too much for stiff shoulders. That might be fine for large muscle groups, but if you want to work on smaller areas or prefer something a little more gentle.
A mini massage gun like the Power Plate+ is just the ticket, and has become my constant companion while I’m working from my spare bedroom. Its higher settings give you a good, deep massage (despite its long battery life and small size, it’s no weakling), but its lower power options are much more gentle than full-sized massage guns.
It’s also super compact, so you can stash away pretty much anywhere. I found it ideally sized for keeping in my desk drawer, ready to attack tense muscles whenever they strike. It’s just important to be sure you’re doing it properly.
Gently does it
Many massage guns come with booklets describing how to target specific areas, but they’re often tiny and hard to read. Power Plate has its own smartphone app to guide you along the way; select your massage gun from the list provided and you’ll get detailed instructions on the best way to use it, complete with videos. It’s a nice touch that makes life a lot easier.
It pays to be careful, though. Using a massage gun on a bony area is a bad idea, so don’t hit your shoulderblades or (even more importantly) your spine. It’s also important not to use a percussive massager on injuries. It’s fine on muscles that are sore from hard work, but using one on a strain or sprain will only make things worse. Don’t use one if you’re having unexplained pain either – see a doctor instead.
Makers of massage guns also recommend not holding them in one area for too long, to avoid bruising yourself. Instead, keep the head moving – and if it ever feels painful or uncomfortable, stop.
This article is part of TechRadar’s Get Fit in 2022 series – a collection of ideas and guides to help get your new year’s health goals off to the right start, whatever your current level of fitness.
Audio player loading… I don’t have great posture – perhaps because I’m tall, perhaps because I’m lazy, or perhaps a combination of both. It’s something that’s only been made worse by working from home, without the watchful eyes of my colleagues to keep me from slouching over my keyboard. That,…
Recent Posts
- X-Men ‘97 didn’t have to go that hard
- This smart smoker makes barbecuing indoors a breeze
- Sugar’s big twist was more than a gimmick
- Logitech Casa Pop-Up Desk Review: A Cute Portable Workstation
- Scientists have created an ultra resistant storage solution that can resist temperatures of 1100°F — shame that it will only be available in megabyte capacities for a foreseeable future
Archives
- May 2024
- April 2024
- March 2024
- February 2024
- January 2024
- December 2023
- November 2023
- October 2023
- September 2023
- August 2023
- July 2023
- June 2023
- May 2023
- April 2023
- March 2023
- February 2023
- January 2023
- December 2022
- November 2022
- October 2022
- September 2022
- August 2022
- July 2022
- June 2022
- May 2022
- April 2022
- March 2022
- February 2022
- January 2022
- December 2021
- November 2021
- October 2021
- September 2021
- August 2021
- July 2021
- June 2021
- May 2021
- April 2021
- March 2021
- February 2021
- January 2021
- December 2020
- November 2020
- October 2020
- September 2020
- August 2020
- July 2020
- June 2020
- May 2020
- April 2020
- March 2020
- February 2020
- January 2020
- December 2019
- November 2019
- December 2011